Auxiliary carrier for portable boxes

ABSTRACT

A pair of corner brackets are removably strapped to spaced corners of the main body portion of a lunch box, each bracket having an upwardly projecting yielding clip whereby an elongated item may be releasably held by the clips in a position close to the body of the lunch box and extending longitudinally thereof below the cover.

[ 1 June 6,1972

United States Patent Graf Morrison et a1. ....2l7/69 ...220/85 um mm wk a VF 588 6 4 999 HHH 005 mm J9 974 965 .2 3 2 [54] AUXILIARY CARRIER FOR PORTABLE BOXES [72] Inventor:

Ed in r W187, 56876 Jewel Crest 1,368,868 2/1921 Wertman Drive, Muskego, Wis. 53150 Aug. 21, 1970 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 Filed:

6,512,498 3/1967 Netherlands.........................m.190/60 Appl. No.:

Primary ExaminerRaphael H. Schwartz AttorneyMorsell & Morsell [52] US. Cl. R, 206/4, 190/60,

T m m A H 5 A nw 0 5 2 d 5 6 c L n i M [58] Field of Search 190/59, 60, 52; 206/4; 220/85; A pair of corner brackets are removably strapped to spaced comers of the main body portion ofa lunch box, each bracket 248/226 E, 316 D; 224/53, 56, 58, 45 Q having an upwardly projecting yielding clip whereby an e1on gated item may be releasably held by the clips in a position close to the body of the lunch box and extending longitudinally thereof below the cover.

References Cited 1,082,017 Feinen.t............. .....,..,.........,..224/53 3Claims,4DrawingFigures AUXILIARY CARRIER FOR PORTABLE BOXES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an attachment whereby an elongated item such as a folded newspaper may be releasably carried on the exterior of a conventional lunch box.

2. Description of the Prior Art As far as applicant is aware there are no carrier devices presently available or shown in the prior art which are intended to permit the carrying of a folded newspaper or item of like shape on the exterior of a lunch box or like article. Workmen with lunch boxes commonly purchase newspapers in the morning and carry them to work. It is inconvenient, particularly when traveling on mass transportation facilities, to carry the lunch box in one hand and the newspaper in the other hand as it leaves no hand free. Also, the user is frequently carrying other items such as topcoat, umbrella, or the like, which makes it inconvenient to carry a newspaper separately.

With the above in mind, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple removable auxiliary carrier which permits the user to carry both the lunch box and newspaper in one hand in a convenient manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides spaced yielding clip members on a wall of a box, such as the front wall thereof, below the cover, said clips being positioned to releasably hold a newspaper or the like close to the body of the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment as above described in which the clips are removably connectible at opposite ends of a longitudinal wall of a lunch box, such as the front wall, in a convenient position to releasably support a folded newspaper extending longitudinally of said wall and close thereto, in a position which does not interfere with the opening ofthe lunch box cover.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a box, an attachment as above described wherein strap means is employed for readily removably connecting the attachment to the box.

A further, more specific object of the invention is to provide a carrier as above described which includes comer brackets removably connected to opposite corners of an elongated wall ofthe box, each bracket supporting a yielding clip.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary carrier in which the brackets may be readily formed of sheet metal, plastic, or other low-cost material, thereby providing a device which is inexpensive to manufacture.

A further, more specific, object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a lunch box, clip means at opposite ends of a longitudinal wall of the lunch box for releasably carrying a newspaper or other elongated item.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide, in combination with a lunch box, a novel attachment for lunch boxes which is easy to install and remove, which can be readily carried within the empty lunch box when not in use, which is durable and long-lasting, and which is otherwise well-adapted for its intended purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional lunch box with the improved attachment in position thereon, the view looking principally at the front and one of the ends of the box;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of one of the clips (the right hand clip) alone; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a folded newspaper in position in the clips of the attachment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a conventional lunch box which comprises a generally rectangular body including a front wall 11, a back wall 12, a pair of end walls 13 and 14, and a bottom 15. Hinged to the box is a cover 16 which is joined to the back wall 12 by a conventional hinge. In conventional lunch boxes the lower edges of the cover are designed to overlap the upper portions of the box when the cover is closed. Suitable coacting latch means 17 are provided on the cover and on the front wall 1 1 to permit the cover to be readily latched in the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 4.

The novel attachment of the present invention includes spaced brackets 18 and 19 which may be formed of sheet metal, plastic, or other relatively inexpensive material. In the embodiment illustrated, each bracket includes sheet metal which is L-shaped in cross-section to provide a corner flange 20 on the left-hand bracket 18, and 21 on the right-hand bracket 19. Each bracket, particularly when formed of metal, may be backed up by a pad of felt, plastic, rubber, or other similar pad material 9. Rjveted, welded, or otherwise suitably secured to each bracket is a front plate 22 bent to provide a horizontal loop or slot 23, Integral with the lower edge of the front plate and bent upwardly therefrom is a yielding metal clip 24 having an inherent tendency to press against and hold the item in position against the upright wall of the box as in FIG. 4.

While it is within the concept of the present invention to secure such brackets permanently to the wall of the lunch box, it is a feature of the invention to provide means for readily detachably holding the brackets in the position of FIGS. 1 and 4. In the preferred embodiment, this is preferably accomplished by the use of a strap 25 of fabric, leather, plastic, or other suitable material, the strap extending through the loops or slots 23 of the front plates of the brackets. One end of the strap is equipped with the usual buckle 26 for releasably receiving the opposite end 27 of the strap to thereby releasably hold the clips in position on the corners of the lunch box, preferably on the front corners as illustrated.

It is to be noted that the left-hand bracket 18 with its flange 20 fits around the left-hand front comer, and the right-hand bracket 19 with its flange 21 (see FIG. 3) fits around the righthand front corner. The brackets are preferably of a height to extend from approximately the bottom of the box to a position just short of the lower edge of the cover 16. Thus the device offers no substantial interference with the opening and closing of the cover.

When the user is going to work, the folded newspaper 28 or other elongated item may be slipped between the front wall II of the box and the yielding clips 24 (as shown in FIG. 4) to extend longitudinally of the lunch box. A standard newspaper is of just slightly greater length, when folded, than the lunch box. Even when the newspaper is in position, there is practically no interference with the opening and closing of the cover of the lunch box.

When the attachment is being used as in FIG. 4, the user may, by grasping the handle 29 of the lunch box, carry both the lunch box and newspaper in one hand, leaving the other hand free.

After he has finished reading the newspaper, if he does not desire to take it home with him, the attachment may be quickly removed from the lunch box and carried home inside of the empty box, or the attachment may be used for carrying other items home, such as elongated packages or the evening paper if it is purchased on the way home.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a portable box having a rectangular portion including an upright wall, the improvement comprising brackets supported in horizontally spaced relationship on said upright wall, each bracket having a horizontal slot portion, strap means extending through said slot portions detachably connecting the brackets to the rectangular portion of the box, and a yielding clip projecting outwardly from each bracket and having an upright portion, the upright portion of each clip being spaced outwardly from said upright wall whereby an elongated item may be yieldingly carried between the upright portion of said clips and said upright wall, each clip having an inherent tendency to press against and hold the elongated item in position.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1, in which each bracket is L-shaped and fits around an upright corner of the rectangular portion of said box, and in which there is a front plate secured to each bracket and having a portion spaced from the bracket to provide said horizontal slots, and in which each clip is connected to a lower edge of said front plate.

3V In combination with a portable box having a rectangular body portion including an upright wall, the improvement comprising brackets supported in horizontally spaced relationship on said upright wall, each bracket being L-shaped and including a flange fitting around an upright corner of the rectangular body, a front plate secured to each bracket and having a horizontal loop portion, a strap threaded through said loops and encircling the box detachably connecting the brackets in position, a yielding clip connected to the lower edge of each front plate and projecting outwardly from each bracket and having an upright portion, the upright portion of each clip being spaced outwardly from said upright wall whereby an elongated item may be yieldingly carried between the upright portion of said clips and said upright wall, each clip having an inherent tendency to press against and hold the elongated item in position. 

1. In combination with a portable box having a rectangular portion including an upright wall, the improvement comprising brackets supported in horizontally spaced relationship on said upright wall, each bracket having a horizontal slot portion, strap means extending through said slot portions detachably connecting the brackets to the rectangular portion of the box, and a yielding clip projecting outwardly from each bracket and having an upright portion, the upright portion of each clip being spaced outwardly from said upright wall whereby an elongated item may be yieldingly carried between the upright portion of said clips and said upright wall, each clip having an inherent tendency to press against and hold the elongated item in position.
 2. The improvement defined in claim 1, in which each bracket is L-shaped and fits around an upright corner of the rectangular portion of said box, and in which there is a front plate secured to each bracket and having a portion spaced from the bracket to provide said horizontal slots, and in which each clip is connected to a lower edge of said front plate.
 3. In combination with a portable box having a rectangular body portion including an upright wall, the improvement comprising brackets supported in horizontally spaced relationship on said upright wall, each bracket being L-shaped and including a flange fitting around an upright corner of the rectangular body, a front plate secured to each bracket and having a horizontal loop portion, a strap threaded through said loops and encircling the box detachably connecting the brackets in position, a yielding clip connected to the lower edge of each front plate and projecting outwardly from each bracket and having an upright portion, the upright portion of each clip being spaced outwardly from said upright wall whereby an elongated item may be yieldingly carried between the upright portion of said clips and said upright wall, each clip having an inherent tendency to press against and hold the elongated item in position. 